Asia is a wealth of cultures and culinary customs, which can sometimes seem a bit strange and distant to us Europeans when it comes to the availability of certain ingredients. The same is true for breakfast rituals. Just as in Europe we have breakfasts in the style of Italy, Paris, or London, in Asia we eat breakfast in the style of China, Japan, or Thailand…
Japanese balance
The first meal for the Japanese is very important and celebrated accordingly. They prepare it to provide the body with plenty of energy without overloading it with difficult-to-digest ingredients. A Japanese breakfast typically consists of simple ingredients – often rice with toppings. As in most Asian cultures, bread is replaced with cooked rice. Pickled and fermented vegetables such as ginger and radishes can also be found on the table. daikon.
The Japanese don't mind a small piece of grilled fish for breakfast. A typical breakfast delicacy is natto, or fermented soybeans, which can put off even the most sensitive noses with its specific smell and taste. The Japanese often enjoy this energizing and warming drink for breakfast. miso soupInstead of rice, pasta is also often chosen – with additions such as chicken, vegetables, wakame, or plain.
Of course, the traditional morning ritual for the Japanese is a cup of perfectly brewed green tea. However, many Japanese city dwellers start their day with a cup of "designer" coffee or its trendy alternative in the form of matcha latte.
Chinese Plate of Plenty
Perhaps the most "breakfast" dish in China is the local version of porridge called freezeCongee, which, unlike our familiar porridges, is traditionally rarely served sweet, is simply rice cooked until it's semi-liquid. It's most often topped with pickled vegetables, fermented tofu, peanuts, eggs, or meat. In China, various dumplings filled with vegetables, meat, and mushrooms are eaten in the morning.
The Chinese also often choose soup for breakfast – usually a hearty broth with noodles, meat, and shrimp. For bread lovers, steamed buns stuffed with pork are recommended. In Beijing, fried rice is served with vegetables, a fried egg, or vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, or peas. The Chinese also enjoy fried eggs, omelets, or hard-boiled eggs in soy sauce, which gives them a distinctive, salty flavor and brown color.
Thai wake-up call
Thais enjoy breakfast dishes that can be described as exotic savory porridge. The most popular breakfast meal in Thailand is joke (this is no joke!), a porridge made from overcooked rice, often served with eggs or pork balls. Just like us, Thais also enjoy omelets with various toppings for breakfast.
And anyone who has ever attended a Polish wedding after-party might not be surprised to learn that in Thailand, the first meal of the day is... broth. It's most often served with vegetables and rice noodles, but shrimp, eggs, chicken, chopped meat, and fresh herbs are also popular additions. Another popular dish eaten in the morning is rice gruel, called kao tom served hot with a beaten egg.